A “Surrey Child Care Gap Assessment” conducted in 2011 found there were 8,530 child care spaces for children up to age 12 in Surrey and estimated that 30,124 more were needed. (Photo: Flickr@familymwr)

OUR VIEW: New child care spaces a baby step for Surrey

Funding means 295 new licensed childcare spots for families but that’s just a drop in bucket

Surrey families will soon have access to 295 new licensed child care spots resulting from a $1.1-million investment through B.C.’s child care major capital funding program, the province announced Monday.

The investment will enable child care providers to build new facilities, buy and assemble a modular building and develop a site, renovate an existing building and buy playground equipment.

A “Surrey Child Care Gap Assessment” conducted in 2011 found there were 8,530 child care spaces for children up to age 12 in Surrey and estimated that 30,124 more were needed. So while this week’s announcement is a step in the right direction, it’s a baby step.

Meanwhile, it is refreshing to see the NDP has not just taken care of Surrey ridings that elected an NDP MLA in the last provincial election.There are nine provincial ridings in Surrey – six held by the NDP and three, by the Liberals. Here’s how that 295-spaces pie will be shared: